We are delighted to announce that Stella Maris in Southampton is opening this summer a Seafarers’ Club at St Michael’s Square, next to St. Joseph’s Church on Bugle Street, and we need volunteers to help make it a success. As we seek to serve the seafarers visiting the Ports of Fawley and Southampton, we are looking for volunteers from the local area to help us run this centre.
The Seafarers’ Club will be a safe place for seafarers who have a few hours of shore leave while their ships are in port. As a volunteer, you will be part of an all-volunteer team, providing a friendly welcome to our visiting seafarers and offering practical advice on the city’s attractions. You will also ensure that seafarers have access to the Club and our chaplaincy services, which provide spiritual and pastoral support to seafarers and their families.
We are seeking volunteers who are at ease with meeting new people and have good communication skills. Knowledge of the maritime industry is not needed. You will be given training on how to receive and look after visiting seafarers. The centre will initially operate between 10 AM and 5 PM, from Monday to Friday, and you can choose to pair up with another volunteer for a few hours or for a full day, depending on your availability.
As a volunteer, you will have access to a comfortable desk area, complete with Wi-Fi, where you can undertake private work. Most importantly, you will be part of a group of like-minded individuals who are committed to making a positive impact on the lives of seafarers visiting Southampton.
We invite you to join us in this venture, to build a team and show support for seafarers, on whom we depend for so much and who face many hardships. Please express your interest in volunteering by contacting us. We look forward to hearing from you.